Author(s): Karvar SH, Gavali RK, Kadam DJ, Vaidya ER and Kanwade DG

Abstract: The Agricultural Research Station in Buldhana was the location where this study was conducted during the Kharif 2018 and Kharif 2019 seasons. Foxtail millet, (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv) was used as the experimental material, and there were 52 different accessions altogether. The purpose of this study was to collect data on twelve quantitative factors to determine the degree of genetic divergence that exists between yield and the attributes that contribute to yield. Within the scope of this inquiry, the D2 statistic illuminated the genetic differences that existed between the genotypes that were being investigated. On the basis of the genetic distances between the 52 genotypes, six groups were constructed between them. Cluster I has the top 41 genotypes, whereas Cluster II, which is another significant cluster, contains seven genotypes derived from a variety of sources. Clusters III–VI, which collectively contain a single genotype, are referred to be monogenic. The relationships with the largest distances were those between clusters II and III (D2 = 2864.39), clusters II and IV (D2 = 2201.49), and clusters IV and VI. Cluster V had the highest average grain yield (18.21), followed by cluster IV with a yield of 20.86, and cluster VI with the lowest yield (11.91). Using genotypes from a separate cluster (IV and II) might be a viable option for a hybridization program aiming to increase millet yield, according to the D2 research.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2023.v7.i2Sh.266